Knowledge and resources

The new Cafcass domestic abuse policy places the child’s experience centre stage, and recognises that there is no such thing as 'historical abuse'

I believe the culture of parental contact has gone too far, and by urging courts to grant it, we as practitioners are in many cases risking the safety of children and the other parent

The judicial approach to costs-capping for one party in LSPO cases puts them at a litigation disadvantage and risks replicating the mechanics of financial control

Support for the vulnerable is a thread that runs through Resolution’s work and our Vision for Family Justice. We’ve asked our domestic abuse committee to share their thoughts on what members should keep in mind in everyday practice.

The growing understanding of coercive control has revealed some problems with how its effects can be reflected in financial remedy proceedings

Mandatory mediation seems to be off the cards for now, but the changes to PD3A may well mark an important shift in the approach to dispute resolution when abuse is an issue

Resolution’s response to the Family Justice Council.

Some thoughts on the new Practice Guidance: Independent Domestic Violence Advisers and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (Family Courts)

Domestic abuse is when someone close to you, often your spouse or partner, causes you physical, sexual, social, mental, financial or emotional harm. The violence and abuse can be actual or threatened and can happen once every so often or on a regular basis. It is not necessary for there to be physical violence for domestic abuse to be serious.

This information is designed to help family solicitors and mediators who are not domestic abuse experts, to identify situations where clients may be suffering domestic abuse and/or violence.

This practice guide provides an overview of working within the Code of Practice when dealing with the complex and sensitive issues that arise in cases where there is domestic abuse

This workshop was presented by Rosie Agnew, the Lead Trainer and Assessor for the charity SafeLives. I must confess that prior to enrolling myself on this workshop, I had no prior knowledge of this charity or the fundamental work that is carried out within it.

It was with much interest and anticipation that I attended the session on domestic abuse, the new Act, Re H-N and practice at the #ResFPConf21. These have probably been some of the most topical and important issues for our team this year and so I was keen to delve deeper into the subject.

Re H-N & ors provides a very useful steer on a number of significant issues in children proceedings where allegations of domestic abuse are made.

This year I was lucky enough to be able to attend my very first Resolution National Conference. As a new associate member and in the current online climate, I was very much keeping an open mind in relation to what to expect. I have to say that with each presentation the experience became more and more enjoyable; a very insightful week indeed.

This judgment of Hayden J contains a wealth of advice and definitions to help practitioners with these difficult cases, including analysis of ‘the context of wider behaviour’.

C v D addresses the procedural issues and troubling assumptions made by the trial judge in F v H, but we will have to wait for a separate (conjoined) Court of Appeal decision to see if family law is going to catch up with criminal law in harm cases.

The new report stresses the need for fundamental reform and culture change. We must all take responsibility for making that change happen.